Books

May 2017

Cardboard Boy

Psychological suspense / family ties / child labour

Theo, a dispirited workplace humanitarian, audits a child worker at a cardboard factory, in a port city somewhere in Asia. He is impressed by young Malak’s maturity and grit. When that boy, the same age as Theo’s own son, disappears, he cannot let it rest. His quest for answers only raises more questions about the traps of structured help and acquired privilege.

December 2016

#CondorCliff

Mystery / humor / older woman protagonist

Equipped with her Sibley guide, explorer hat and field glasses, Amanda Byrd fearlessly pursues the most elusive bird species.

Following on her late husband’s footsteps, she explores a beautiful canyon, along with a gaggle of tourists led by Ed, a very patient native guide. As a majestic California Condor swoops overhead, Amanda discovers that their group has been trapped at the bottom with their only way to climb back up sabotaged. Ed fears that the canyon will become a mortal cauldron as the day progress.

Who did it, and why? The canyon keeps many secrets, linked to her husband’s past…

November 2016

Coffee and Chocolate

true story / memories / horses / all-ages

A passenger on board a fast-moving train glimpses a couple of brown horses in an unkempt field. She sees them again the next year, and the year after. She wonders if they are neglected or loved for by their owner. That small field may be the horses’ last protection against a one-way trip to the slaughterhouse…

A very short but haunting true story by Michèle Laframboise, Canadian multi-award winner author. The tale is complemented with a list of horse rescue centers and a few horse sketches from her hand.